Improvement in spring air-pistols



W. C. CROSS.

SPRING AIR-PISTOL.

N.'1'8Z,899. Patented oct. 3,118.15.

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N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGYON. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM O. CROSS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPRING AIR-PISTOLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent-No. 182,899, dated October3, 1876; application filed August 3, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM O. CROSS, of Boston, county of Suffolk,State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Spring Air-Pistols, of which the following is aspecification:

In the acco mpanying plate of drawings, Figures l and 2 are central andlongitudinal sections of a spring air-pistol, showing my presentimprovements; Fig. 3, an enlarged view in detail, hereinafter referredto, and Fig. 4 a view at the breech of the pistol-barrel.

This invention relates to certain improvements in spring air-pistols;and my invention consists of a novel construction of parts, which willbe fully hereinafter described, and specifically pointed out in theclaims, a preliminary description being therefore deemed unnecessary.

In the drawings, A represents the frame or stock of the pistol, of whichframe the part B contains the air magazine or chamber O, and the handleD; E, the barrel, secured to the upper side of the part B to frame A; a,an air-passage leading from rear or breech end of chamber b of barrel Eto the rear end of airchamber C, thus making an air communicationbetween the two chambers; F, the air plunger or piston for forcing airfrom the airchamber G into the barrel-chamber b, and Gr the coiledspring for driving the plunger F.

The plunger F and its spring G are both arranged within the air-chamberG, and the spring lies between the forward end d of chamber O and theplunger F. I is a stem-rod, having a head or handle, f. This rod I issurrounded by a coiled spring, g, and it enters a tube, J, of theplunger F, and in such tube it has a head, l. m, a shoulder at n on tubeJ, projecting inwardly so that the rod-head lwill abut against it whenthe rod is pulled outwardly. The rod I plays through a screw-nut, o,which is screwed to one end of a casing, K, that at its other end makesthe forward end d of the air-chamber, and is thereat adapted to bescrewed in place on the air-chamber. The coiled spring g to rod I lieson the rod I, between the head of the rod and the screw-nut o, throughwhich the rod plays, and when the rod is drawn outwardly through thescrew-nut said spring is -compressed between the head of the rod andsaid screw-nut, so that in its reaction it will throw the rod back. L,the trigger. This trigger is arranged as ordinarily, and it is inposition to catch over the solid or inclosed end of the plunger F, whensaid plunger is drawn forward against its spring G, (see Fig. 2,) andthus holds the plunger until desired to discharge the pistol, which isdone by simply pressing upon the trigger, which releases it from itssaid engagement with the plunger. The air-plunger F, as shown in Fig. 2,is in position for forcing the air between it and the rear end of theair-chamber into the barrel-chamber, and when released, by properlyoperating the trigger, it travels under the recoil of its spring G tothe rear end P of the air-chamber O, and drives with great force the airwhichis in said chamber C through the air-aperture a into thebarrel-chamber b, where the dart or other charge is, and thereby, undera proper closing of the barrel, except at its muzzle M, sends out suchdart or other proper charge with great force and swiftness from themuzzle of the barrel.

To set the plunger F for a discharge, draw the rod I outwardly throughthe nut-head o. Thisalso draws the plunger in the same direction, and socontinues to draw until the plunger is brought into position for thetrigger L to catch it, (see Fig. 2,) when, removing the hand from therod I, the recoil of its spring g throws it back to its firstpositionthat is, the position shown in Fig. l. N, the open breech end ofthe pistol-barrel, and O a plate, which closes the same. The barrel ischarged at its open breech end, and when it is to be charged the plate Ois removed and then replaced before the pistol is discharged. Forconvenience of adjusting the closing breech-plate O at the breech of thebarrel, as above described, it is located on an arm, P, which is adaptedat q to be swung on the frame so as to set opposite or away from theopen breech. Q, a screw-bolt, which screws in the arm P and turnsloosely in the breech-closing plate O, but with the plate the arm isinterlocked by' a rib, r, and groove s, as shown in Fig. 3, so that whenthe screw-bolt is turned in either direction the plate will travel withit. Thus the plate O cau be set tightly and closely against the openbreech, to prevent the escape of air when the pistol is discharged, orit can be set away from the open breech for its further re moraltherefrom by swinging the arm which carries it.

The closing breech-plate 0 and its carrierarm are interlocked by pins uand sockets c, which prevent the plate from turning with the screw-holtwithout interfering with its travel against and away from the openbreech. This interlock is essential, as no friction, rub7 0r wear takesplace between the open breech and the breech-plate 0 in closing thebreechplate from time to time against theopen breech. R, a stein, Whichpasses loosely through center of screwbolt Q, and lies by its daring end'w within a corresponding-shaped seat or recess, a2, in the face S ofthe breech-plate 0, which closes against the open breech 0i' the barrel.This rod is for pushing the dart or other charge in the barrel E beyondthe airpassagea after the breech-plate is set against the open breech,and this push of the dart, 85e., is accomplished by simply pressing thepusherstem R against its coiled spring b2, which spring, on its recoil,brings said pusher back to its position within the breech-plate 0, whereobviously it is no obstruction to the course ot' the air from theair-chamber G to the barrel-chamber b.

The spring gon rod I for setting plunger F can be dispensed with, but itis preferable to use it, as said rod with it, by its recoil, will bethrown back automatically. The construction and connection of the rod Iand air-plunger F, herein described, secure a closed and soliddriving-tace to the airplunger, and leave no joints in the air-chamberfor the air to waste itself as the plunger travels to discharge thepistol; and, again, as the coiled spring for the plunger lies betweenthe plunger F and the end of the casing K, through which plays thesetting or cooking rod, and as such casing makes the forward end of theairchamber C, obviously when the spring is removed by unscrewing saidcasing from the chamber G, the coiled spring is held against additionalextension, which enables it to be returned with facility and ease. y, apin attached to and projecting from the arm P, and serving as a stop tothe movement 0l' the arm P bythe length of the slot w, in which the piny plays in handle D.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination with the swinging arm P, a spring-returned pushecstem,for adjusting the dart in position, substantially as described. 2. Incombination With the swingingarm P, the movable breechblock O and thespringretnrned pusher-stem R, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the swinging arm P, the movable breech-block O,arranged to interlock therewith by pins a and sockets v, substantiallyas specied.

4. In combination with the barrel, airchamber, and setting-rod I, theadditional casing K, constructed and arranged to operate substantiallyas described.

5. In combination with the barrel, airchamber. and spring-impelledplunger, the setting-rod I, with its spring g and tubej, all arranged tooperate substantially as described.

WILLIAM C. CROSS.

Witnesses:

EDWIN W. BROWN, GEO. H. EARL.

